ISIS launches major offensive to seize key town in east Hama

The Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham (ISIS) launched a large-scale offensive to capture the strategic town of Sheikh Hilal on Thursday morning, striking the Syrian Arab Army’s (SAA) positions along the important Salamiyah-Sheikh Hilal Road that was obstructed by the terrorist group last month.

ISIS began their assault at 5:00 A.M. (Damascus Time) on Thursday morning when they attempted to overrun the Syrian Arab Army’s defenses at the southern flank of Sheikh Hilal.

The terrorist group was successful in overrunning a key checkpoint outside of Sheikh Hilal, killing 4 Syrian Arab Army soldiers and seizing the heavy weaponry stored there.

Following the capture of this checkpoint on Thursday morning, ISIS attempted to advance on the town’s gates, but were beaten back by the reinforcements from the Syrian Arab Army before they could reach their intended target.

Luckily, the Syrian Arab Army reinforcements were able to launch a counter-attack to recapture this key checkpoint; this proved successful as ISIS was forced to retreat south from the Sheikh Hilal countryside.

ISIS’ assault on Thursday was concerning for the Syrian Arab Army units in the Sheikh Hilal countryside because of the progress the terrorist group was able to achieve in such a short period of time.

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